Issa vs. Holder on Fast and Furious, Round Three

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) gave Attorney General Eric Holder a choice during the House Judiciary hearing on Fast and Furious on December 8: go before Issa’s House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voluntarily or expect a subpoena within a month. The AG apparently opted for the less splashy option.

“Hostile witness” Holder will face Issa’s House Oversight Committee on February 2. This time around Issa will be in charge of the proceedings. And he won’t be limited to a few measly minutes of questioning while fending off rude interruptions by Holder-protectoress Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX).

Darrell Issa today announced that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has been scheduled to testify on February 2 about the Department of Justice’s knowledge of, and response to, gunwalking that occurred in Operation Fast and Furious.

The Attorney General will be asked to address management deficiencies within the Department that occurred both during and after the conclusion of Operation Fast and Furious. This will include the Department’s steadfast refusal to disclose information following the February 4, 2011 letter to Senator Grassley, which the Department has withdrawn because it contained false information denying allegations made by whistleblowers about Operation Fast and Furious.

“The Department of Justice’s conduct in the investigation of Operation Fast and Furious has been nothing short of shameful,” said Chairman Issa. “From its initial denials that nothing improper occurred, to efforts to silence whistleblowers who wanted to tell Congress what really happened, to its continuing refusal to discuss or share documents related to this cover-up, the Justice Department has fought tooth and nail to hide the full truth about what occurred and what senior officials knew.